Abdominal support



May 28, 1935- R. B. MCMURRY 2,003,210

ABDOMINAL SUPPORT Filed Deo. 27, 1953 l l i /7 ATTOR N EY Patente-d May 28, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 claim.

The invention relates to an article of wearing apparel and more especially to an abdominal support.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an article of this character, wherein its body is constructed from cloth or other suitable fabric having stays or ribs of suitable material, these being disposed in a particular manner to give the proper bend and tension where desired and such article is to be worn under the corset, elastic belt or girdle of any kind, with the stays or ribs horizontally disposed across the abdomen to brace and support it, flattening out that part of the body to enhance the fit and appearance of any completed costume or outer garment.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an article of this character which is extremely simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in its purposes, strong, du.- rable, readily and easily fitted to and removed from a wearer, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the article constructed in accordance with the invention and shown in position relative to a wearer, the latter being indicated by dotted lines, while the article is in full lines.

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation of the article.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view thereof.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showing in the application of the article the straightening effect resultant therefrom of the body of a wearer.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a slight modification of the invention.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, particularly Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, the article comprises a body I0 made from several plies or pieces of fabric of any desirable kind, these being cut and shaped alike into substantially abdominal formation and marginally joined with each other by stitches II. At intervals between the pieces of fabric constituting the body I0 and formed by stitches I2 are transversely arranged spaced parallel pockets I3 for accommodating stays or ribs I4 preferably made from reed, although the same can be made from other material, for example, metal, whalebone, celluloid or any suitable material to give proper bend and tension thereto. Each stay or rib I4, at oppositefends, is reversely beveled as at I5 for tapering purposes so as to avoid, in the use of the article, any protuberances at the ends of the pockets I3 in the body.

At the four points, as disclosed in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, on one side of the. body are provided the male parts I6 of snap fasteners, the female parts I1 of which are preferably attached to an article of wearing apparel, as for example, a corset I8, so that in the application of the article the same can be disposed against the abdomen with the stays or ribs I4 transversely thereof and attached to the inner side of the corset I8, when worn, for the holding of the article in proper position with respect to the abdomen of the wearer.

In the wearing of the article it will serve to brace and support the abdomen, flattening out that part of the body to enhance the fit and appearance of any completed costume or outer wearing apparel. y

In Figure 6 of the drawing there is shown a slight modification of the invention wherein the body I9 is of rectangular shape and carries the stays or ribs in pockets 20 provided in this body, these pockets being disposed horizontally and spaced from eachl other, while the body is joined at 2l with aY girdle 22, the other end of the body I9 being separable from the girdle by a lacing 23 coacting with lacing hooks 24 arranged on the said body I9 and girdle 22, respectively.

The body I9 attached to the girdle 22 is worn over the abdomen of a wearer and functions identically as the article hereinbefore described and constituting the preferred embodiment of the invention.

What is claimed is:

The combination with a body embracing garment, of a pad comprising a substantially heartshaped body formed of a plurality of plies ofV fabric, stitches marginally connecting the plies and also providing spaced transversely disposed easements, stays fitted in the easements and having reversely tapered opposite ends, and separable fasteners at the inner face of the body embracing garment and on the ypad at the outer side thereof for the placement of the latter over the abdomen of a wearer, with the stays lying transversely thereof to give the proper bend and tension to the pad.

RALPH B. MCMURRY. 

